Evaluation of different surface treated implants after provisionalization: A 6-month prospective study

Replacing missing teeth with dental implants has become the best treatment option; therefore, clinicians need to understand the predictability of the treatment. Surface treatment of implants is one of the methods to improve osseointegration, thus improving the quality of treatment. Increasing esthetic awareness among patients has led to the popularity of immediate provisionalization of dental implants. This study investigated the effect of surface treatment on implant stability when loaded with immediate non-functional temporary prostheses and compared the superiority of one surface treatment over the other in terms of osseointegration by evaluating implant stability quotient (ISQ).

Twenty implants with different surface treatments were placed, i.e., resorbable blast media (RBM) surface and alumina blasted/acid-etched (AB/AE) surfaces. All the implants were non-functionally loaded, and ISQ was measured immediately after implant placement and 6 and 12 weeks after non-functional loading. Crestal bone levels, mPI, mSBI, and peri-implant probing depths were compared for both groups at 1, 3, and 6 months.

At 12 weeks, all the implants showed desirable ISQ, indicating successful osseointegration. The increase in ISQ at 12 weeks was significantly higher for RBM implants compared to baseline, indicating a more predictable course of osseointegration. Crestal bone levels recorded at 1, 3, and 6 months did not significantly differ between the groups. All other parameters showed comparable values for both groups at all intervals.

Replacing missing teeth with dental implants with immediate non-functional restorations is a predictable treatment option.